Key to test reports - indoor aerials

Each of the product summaries starts with a bar diagram - its length shows you how well the aerial performed - the longer the bar, the better the performance.

Price. Typical selling price according to the manufacturer when we bought the product, or otherwise the price we paid for it. Once every six weeks we check on line for widely available high street prices for all the current products on the site, and update to the cheapest of these. Similarly when products are available only through internet sales, we update to the cheapest prices there.

Verdict
This is where we summarise how good each aerial was at picking up digital signals (its sensitivity) and its frequency range (how many channels it could receive).

We also tell you if an aerial has to be pointed in just the right direction to work – if it is a directional aerial.

See the pictures – they are to scale and some indoor aerials are certainly more discreet than others.

Some performed better from main or relay transmitters - see polarisation.

Overall performance
This is a rating calculated from the number of multiplexes [Read an explaination of "multiplexes" on the jargon buster] that the aerials could pick up in different rooms in our test homes. The higher the percentage, the more channels you are likely to get with this aerial.

Stability
Its general stability – whether the aerial was top heavy or likely to be pulled over by its cable.

Flaws during testing
How well the aerial stood up to our use and any obvious areas of weakness. We tell you if anything broke.

Instructions and their usefulness
Whether the aerial came with a booklet or just some information on the box. We rated the instructions for helpfulness – about connecting up, tuning and positioning the aerial, tuning in a digital receiver. We also assessed their clarity and readability.

Aerial cable length
Whether the aerial cable is:

• very long: 275 cm or more
• long: 175 – 274 cm
• medium: 115 – 174 cm
• short: less than 115 cm

Long cables are good for top-of-the-wardrobe installations. Short ones restrict where you can position the aerial for best reception – though you can buy an aerial extension cable.

Amplifier
This is really a signal booster. We tell you if the aerial has one and, if so, whether it’s built-in or separate. Our tests found that having an amplifier could slightly improve reception if the picture isn’t quite good enough without it.

Power
If the aerial has an amplifier, it will be mains or battery powered. Of the mains powered ones, some can also be powered by a 12v adapter – useful for use in a boat or caravan with a 12v battery.

We also tell you which aerials do not need their own power socket because they can be powered from the set top box. But take note – few set top boxes can provide this power so might need a special mains adapter. The Philex SLx27746R was supplied with a DC inserter for this purpose.

Battery life
The batteries typically run for 200 hours or more – so you should switch them off when not watching TV.

Power cable length
Whether the power cable is:

• very long: 275 cm or more
• long: 175 – 274 cm
• medium: 115 – 174 cm
• short: less than 115 cm

Long cables are good for top-of-the-wardrobe installations. Short ones restrict where you can position the aerial for best reception. You could use a mains extension cable – but watch it doesn’t become a trip hazard.

How much power?
The lower the power consumption is, the better for the environment. The aerials with an amplifier used less than 1W to 3.5W.

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